Internal combustion engine



March 12, 1963 H. J. BERRY 3,

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Feb. 27, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 94 Q 685 l8 6) Q,,35\ as I 7' 44 l 6 O I 85 o o 68 94 54 I4 0 5 I I 32 as O 54.t O

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INVENTOR. HARRY J. BERRY Mam March 12, 1963 H. J. BERIRY 3,08

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Feb. 27, 1956 2 SheetsSheet 2 Fig. 9

INVENTOR.

HARRY J. BERRY JGmx 8 116m United States Patent 3,080,856 INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINE Harry J. Bert- 4511 Hamilton St., San Diego, Calif.Filed Feb. 27, 1956, Ser. No. 568,060 3 Claims. (Cl. 123-18) The presentinvention relates generally to internal combustion engines and moreparticularly to an engine of the fuel injection type, having arcuatepistons oscillatable in an annular cylinder, and means to convert theoscillatory motion of said pistons into rotary motion of a shaft.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an internalcombustion engine of the fuel injection type, having arcuate pistonsoscillatable in an annular cylinder, power being transmitted directly toa shaft without the use of a crankshaft.

Another object of this invention is to provide an engine in which meansare provided to limit the arcuate travel of the pistons to apredetermined segment of the cylinder.

Another object of this invention is to provide an engine in which thetravel limiting means also carries means to convert the oscillatorymotion of the pistons to rotary motion of the shaft.

Another object of this invention is to provide an engine of thecharacter described which requires no valves but is simply provided withexhaust ports, opened and closed by the pistons.

Another object of this invention is to provide an engine of thecharacter described in which force of expanding gases in the firingchambers acts on all pistons simultaneously, thereby eliminating theresistive forces met when one piston necessarily motivates one or moretemporarily idle pistons, as in conventional engines.

Another object of. this invention is to provide an engine which isadapted for fabrication from many different materials, so that thechoice of material can be according to the dictates of availability andprice considerations, the exact sizes and proportions being matterseasily determined to suit particular conditions and needs.

Another object of this invention is to provide an engine which ispracticable and inexpensive to manufacture.

Finally, it is an object to provide an engine of the aforementionedcharacter which is simple, safe and convenient to manufacture, operateand maintain and which will give generally efiicient and durableservice.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consistsin the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements andportions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification,particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawings,which form a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the device with one half of thecasing, a ring gear, and two of the pistons being removed for clearrepresentation of internal portions, the removed pistons being indicatedonly by dash line.

FIGURE 2. is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the pistons takenon the line 2-2 of FIGURE 3.

3,080,856 Patented Mar. 12, 1963 and the shaft, drive bearings mountedin said gear contacting the shaft, and shown in driving relationship.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7, and showing the drive bearingsin coasting relationship.

FIGURE 9 is a detailed view of the ring gear shown A ber 14 having atoroidal chamber 16 therein. The mem- FIGURE 3 is a view taken on theline 3-3 of FIG- her 14 is divided into equal halves on a plane normalto the axis thereof, each half being provided with spaced lugs 18extending radially outward therefrom for bolting the halves rigidlytogether.

Cover plates 20, 22 having radially extended flanges 24 are fitted intoannular seats 26 in the member 14 and bolted thereto, and these coverplates are provided with axial openings, the cover plate 20 having alarger opening to receive a sleeve 40 hereinafter described and thecover plate 22 having a simple bearing for the shaft 32. Each coverplate 20, 22 is further provided with an annular chamber 34 throughwhich a coolant fluid may be circulated for the dissipation of heatgenerated during operation of the device.

The drive assembly 12 comprises a sleeve 40 keyed to the cover plate 20,as at 52, and extending inwardly, through the opening 28, into a gearchamber 42 defined by the inwardly disposed surfaces of the member 14and the cover plates 20, 22. Two plates constituting interrupted ringgears 44, 46 are mounted coaxially of said shaft and engage pinion gears48 pivotally mounted in diametrically opposed relationship on theinwardly disposed end of the sleeve 40.

The teeth 54 of each ring gear 44, 46 are of recessed or internal beveltype and are divided into two segments by diametrically opposed plainfaced portions or hearing blocks 58, which are integral parts of thegears 44, 46 and consist merely of portions raised to approximatelyflush relationship with the annular, flange-like facing surfaces 56disposed peripherally of the teeth 54 on each ring gear. Each ring gear44, 46 is further provided with an axial bore 60, 61, allowing freerotation about the shaft 32, the bore 60 in the ring gear 44 beingenlarged to accept the sleeve 40.

A peripheral flange 62 extends radially outward from each ring gear 44,46 to the chamber 16, an annular slot 64 being provided in the member 14therefor, the outwardly disposed edges of the flanges 62 being arcuatelybevelled to conform to the curvature of the chamber 16. Diametricallyopposed lugs 66 extending outwardly of the flanges 62 are inclined fromtrue radial disposition and extend into the chamber 16, to engage theirrespective pistons 68 therein.

Each piston 68 is arcuate to conform to the curvature of the chamber 16,and is provided with a slot '70 for engagement with the correspondinglug 66. Transverse webs 72 extending inwardly of the piston 68 ateachend of the slot 70, are provided with channels 74 which engage the lug66 and prevent any turning or binding of the piston 68 within thechamber 16. A reinforcing web 76 extends between each web 72 and theadjacent end wall 78 of the piston. Annular channels 80, adjacent eachend wall '78 of the pistons 68 provide means for retaining conventionalpressure rings 82 thereon.

It now becomes clearly evident that the travel of the pistons 68 islimited by the coac-tion of the ring gears 44, 46 and the pinion gears48, since thelsleeve 40 on which the gears 48 are mounted is fixedrelative to the member 14, and the bearing blocks 58 serve as stops ateither end of a piston stroke. Thus, the are through which a piston maymove is defined by the arc of travel allowed by the gears 44, 46 and thepinion 48. The annular member 14 is provided with four inlet ports 84spaced 90 degrees apart and positioned so as to be between the adjacentends of each pair of pistons at the end of their stroke. Also in theannular member 14 are eight exhaust ports 86 spaced intermediate theinlet ports 84 in such manner that the exhaust ports are uncoveredbeween the Widely spaced ends of the separated pistons at the end oftheir stroke. Fuel is injected into the ports 84 by any suitableinjection system, such as that type used in a diesel engine, and thefuel is fired by compression ignition between the approaching pistons.The resultant explosion drives the pistons apart so that the alternatepairs of pistons-now approach each other and, as the ends of the pistonspass the exhaust ports 86, the combustion gases are exhausted. Meanwhiletwo new firing chambers are defined at 90 degrees displacement fromthose shown, and fuel injection and ignition therein results in returnof the pistons to the position as shown in FIGURE 1 and oscillatorymotion of the pistons is continued.

If reference now be had to FIGURES 6, 7, and 8, the means by which theoscillatory motion of the pistons is transmitted to the ring gear 44, 46and converted into rotary motion in the shaft 32 becomes clearlyevident. Two intersecting bores 90, 92 having axes co-pla'narwith andparallel to the axis of the'shaft 32 are provided in each bearing block58 of each ring gear 44, 46. The bores 90 adjacent the shaft 32 arepositioned so that clutch rollers 94 inserted therein contact the shaft32. The outwardly positioned bores 92 are-provided with a raised,flattened portion 96, adjacent the points of intersection with the bores90, which coact with a flattened portion 98 of rollers 100 therein tolimit the rotation thereof. Thus, as the gear 44 starts to rotate in aclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURES 7 and 8, the rollers 94 arecaused to roll on the surface of the shaft 32 and begin to rotateclockwise, while their frictional'contact with the rollers 100 causesthe latter to rotate counterclockwise, wedging the bearings 94, 100between the shaft 32 and the bearing blocks 58, and inducing rotation inthe shaft 32.

As the gear 44 begins to rotate counterclockwise, the bearings 94, 109also reverse rotation, bringing the diettened portion 98 over thebearing 94, allowing .fre'e rotation of the latter. Slots 102 providedin the sleeve 40 allow the bearings 94 in the gear 46 to contact theshaft 32. It will be noted that as gear 44 moves counterclockwise, gear46 moves clockwise, engaging bearings 94, 100 therein with the shaft.Thus, it can now be clearly seen one-half of the pistons are always indriving relation to the shaft and that the oscillatory motion of thepistons is converted into continuous rotary motionof the shaft.

It is noteworthy that a plurality of engines as hereinbefore describedmay be mounetd on a single shaft without the use of intermediate gearingor transmission connections as presently required. All the engines onthe shaft 30 transmit power thereto and, in the event that one enginebecomes inoperative, no increased resistance is encountered, since theinoperative engine becomes merely a bearing on the shaft.

Another very important feature of this invention is that an engine maybe readily installed on a rotating shaft 32, the bearings 94 in the gear46 being held in place by any convenient means until contact is madewith the shaft 39, then the engine may be moved to the desired locationon the shaft 32, and secured to any type of mounting frame desired.After installment is completed, the engine is started and brought up tosynchronization with other'engines on the shaft 32, thereby adding tothe power transmitted to the shaft.

An annular sealing ring 164 and packing rings 166 prevent the escape ofpresure load from the chambers 83, the member 14, and the gears 44, 46being provided with channels to receive the said rings 194, 106.

Since no compression stroke is required in the instant invention, nomechanical valves are necessary for the exhaust of gases with in thechambers 38, the exhaust ports 86 being simply located so as to beuncovered behind the pistons 68 slightly before the pistons 68 reach thenext injection position, thus allowing the burnt gases to esca e.

lhe operation of this invention will be clearly comprehended from aconsiderataion of the foregoing description of the mechanical detailsthereof, taken in connection with the drawing and the above recitedobjects. It willbe obvious that all said objects are amply achieved bythis invention.

Further description would appear to be unnecessary.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the inventiondisclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scopeof the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to beconsidered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. An internal combustion engine comprising: a housing; a shaftrotatably mounted in said housing; a toroidal cylinder within saidhousing and encircling said shaft; opposing pairs of arcuate pistonsmounted within said cylinder for oscillatory movement; a pair ofsimilar, generally annular members, each engaging one of each pair ofpistons to oscillate therewith about said shaft; clutch means providingdriving connection between said members and said shaft While the membersare individually moving in the direction said shaft is to be driven;said members being in confronting relation and having corresponding ringgear teeth on diametrically opposed portions of the confronting facesthereof; a pair of pinions mounted for free rotation on fixed journalson opposite sides of said shaft and in constant mesh with said teeth andinterconnecting said members for equal and opposite movement thereof;and fuel inlets and exhaust outlets for said cylinder adjacent thepositions of the ends of the pistons at their limits of travel; andmeans for injecting fuel between each approaching pair of pistons, suchthat each oscillation of the pistons includes two firing strokes.

2. An engine according to claim 1 wherein said clutch means comprises apair of rollers mounted in longitudinally interconnecting bores in eachof said members and the confronting portions of structure fixed inrelation to said cylinder, one roller of each pair of rollers and thecoresponding bore having flats allowing rotation of each roller in onedirection only.

3. An engine according to claim 1 and including a sleeve coaxial withsaid shaft and fixed in relation to said cylinder; said sleevecomprising a journal for one of said members and comprising supportmeans for said journals of the pinions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,094,794 Kemper et al Apr. 28, 1914 1,352,127 Henderson Sept. 7, 19201,644,564 Bullington Oct. 4, 1927 1,917,180 Zwick July 4, 1933 2,157,764Langrognet May 9, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 525,354 Germany May 22, 19312,402 Australia June 2, 1931 619,995 Great Britain Mar. 17, 1949 455,760Italy Mar. 13. 1950

1. AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE COMPRISING: A HOUSING; A SHAFTROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING; A TOROIDAL CYLINDER WITHIN SAIDHOUSING AND ENCIRCLING SAID SHAFT; OPPOSING PAIRS OF ARCUATE PISTONSMOUNTED WITHIN SAID CYLINDER FOR OSCILLATORY MOVEMENT; A PAIR OFSIMILAR, GENERALLY ANNULAR MEMBERS, EACH ENGAGING ONE OF EACH PAIR OFPISTONS TO OSCILLATE THEREWITH ABOUT SAID SHAFT; CLUTCH MEANS PROVIDINGDRIVING CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS AND SAID SHAFT WHILE THE MEMBERSARE INDIVIDUALLY MOVING IN THE DIRECTION SAID SHAFT IS TO BE DRIVEN;SAID MEMBERS BEING IN CONFRONTING RELATION AND HAVING CORRESPONDING RINGGEAR TEETH ON DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED PORTIONS OF THE CONFRONTING FACESTHEREOF; A PAIR OF PINIONS MOUNTED FOR FREE ROTATION ON FIXED JOURNALSON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SHAFT AND IN CONSTANT MESH WITH SAID TEETH ANDINTERCONNECTING SAID MEMBERS FOR EQUAL AND OPPOSITE MOVEMENT THEREOF;AND FUEL INLETS AND EXHAUST OUTLETS FOR SAID CYLINDER ADJACENT THEPOSITIONS OF THE ENDS OF THE PISTONS AT THEIR LIMITS OF TRAVEL; ANDMEANS FOR INJECTING FUEL BETWEEN EACH APPROACHING PAIR OF PISTONS, SUCHTHAT EACH OSCILLATION OF THE PISTONS INCLUDES TWO FIRING STROKES.